From behind the former Iron Curtain

Some of you may be wondering what is happening to us deep in the German woods. One thing I'm sure Is that I saw a wolf cross the road - grey, large, careless gait. Problem is I saw it only a kilometer or two from our camp which is, surprisingly, situated deep in the woods. It is Beside a lake, or 'Am See' as the Germans say. We prefer to say 'In See' however, as it still has not stopped raining.Oh for a dry day.

Trabi broken down at Brandenburg To

The locals say we have thunder and lightning ahead until at least Prague. Having purchased an umbrella in Berlin I feel ready for anything on foot but the large navy blue cloak I bought at bicycle heaven is cumbersome, and sorry to say, not stylish. I want to throw it off forever, but it keeps me dryish, always good.

Pretzel bike

We are also writing to Angela Merkel as many of the radwegs seem to be more appropriate for teenage mountain bike riders rather than old age pensioners battling the wettest summer in Germany since cocky was an egg. Unfortunately we did not have the letter ready in Berlin as we passed her parliamentary offices where we could have hand delivered it. Damn.

Bears at Torgau

Berlin is as lovely and under construction as I remember. We cruised down to Kreuzberg and took in the notice 'YUPPIES AUS' before settling into a bar and ordering up on the beers. All sorts dwell there. We might have gone clubbing but opted for the tapas bar instead. Contacts have been made for Barcelona. Yum!

A gem was had by conversing with Frau in Bad Schmiedeberg who after telling me she had lost 20 kilos after the death of her husband - no, I am NOT suggesting anything - took me to meet the pastor who showed us into his church. The 'high'light was climbing the tower and viewing the village below.

Two brown bears in the former moat of the Torgau Schloss amused me. One stretched out in the few rays of sun that escaped through the rain clouds, one leg propped up on its cave. It seemed a good place to keep bears, but their significance was somewhat lost on me. Apparently there have been bears in Torgau since the 1400s. Nelson thought they may be grizzlies, but that seemed a trifle remote.

Eat your heart out in Belgram

If you wish to tune out of the metrics, do so now.

Sunday 8 July Copenhagen to Ystad: 72 kms, bright sunshine, TITS 3'55

Tuesday 10 July Ystad to Trelleborg: 53 kms, grey, head wind, spatters of rain, TITS 3'06

Wednesday 11 July Rostock to Krakow am See: 80 kms, rain and showers, TITS 4'30

Thursday 12 July Krakow am See to Waren: 58 kms, rain, rain and rain, lovely lunch of home-made tomato soup, TITS 3'53

Friday 13 July Waren to Himmelpfort: 103 kms, TITS 5'58, serious rain with extraordinary stretches of mountain bike riding trails. We needed to rescue Nelson, Gloria and Bob who took a wrong turn.

Saturday 14 July Himmelpfort to Berlin: 76.5 kms, 4'09 TITS, serious rain again so caught a train in from Orienberg.

Tuesday 17 July Berlin to Radigke: 118 kms, 6'38 TITS. It took 2 1/2 hrs to ride the 15kms out of Berlin. The rain stopped at Potsdam and the rest of the ride was in sunshine with a headwind. Lovely to see the sun and get out of the plastic. A great little camp ground with Herr getting us a crate of local beer to wash away our ride.

Wednesday 18 July Radigke to Rotta: 48kms, 2'56 TITS. Wolves nearby - I'm sure I felt one circling my tent during the night. I woke to a woodpecker searching for breakfast. Great day's riding.

Thursday 19 July Rotta to Torgau: 64kms, 3'18 TITS. NO RAIN AT ALL WHILE RIDING! Who cared about the strong winds.

Friday 20 July Torgau to Moritzburg: 90 kms, 5'11 TITS. Some time along the Elbe Radweg then a deviation onto Moritzburger Weg through small farms, towns and woods which opened out onto a large lake which held the reflection of a stunning castle.

 

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